The Night My Husband Learned Not to Interrupt

Tonight I'm sitting here at the computer and my husband is installing a light fixture that's been missing since...ohhh, about 9 years ago.

We are on top of things around here!

Anywho.

So, he's just a few feet away from me and I start to say something. I don't get out more than two words and he says,

"No. Probably not."

We both start to laugh.

And then he says, "okay, what were you going to ask?"

I tell him...

"I was going to ask if you'd like me to take my clothes off right now."

We both got another really good laugh and then he asked what I was really going to ask him. I actually wasn't going to ask him anything, I was going to tell him something.

I entered us into a contest for a trip for two. I find out Friday that I win. Yes, I'm thinking happy thoughts.

And begging the Lord pretty please.

Through the Years

Inspired by this post by MckMama.



In June of 1980, three weeks after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, a little girl is born to a single mama. I am that little girl and my mama was just 19.

In 1981 I would meet my dad for the first time but I would never in my 18 years of knowing him, call him "Dad".

Late Summer of 1983 my mom married my step-dad and he's the man that for the next 12 years (tho' the marriage didn't last that long) I will call "Dad".

In May of 1984, I become a big sister when Erica is born. It will be approximately 22 years before we are friends. Six weeks after she's born, we move from WA to Alta Loma, California. I meet my step-dad's mom and step-dad. My grandmother introduces me to Ritz crackers and peanut butter while watching cartoons in bed. My grandfather introduces me to Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream from Baskin Robbins. I believe this is the year that I fell in love with all things chocolate and peanut-buttery. Praise the Lord for 1984.

In 1985 we move to Phoenix, AZ and I start Kindergarten. I remember during a nap that I had a dream my stepdad came home with bandages on his face. When I woke up...he came home and indeed did have bandages on his face. He'd burned himself when a radiator cap busted. 24 years later, it still freaks me out I had a dream about it and it happened. I finish Kindergarten in G*view, WA and meet Peter Herrera. He's the first boy I have a crush on and this crush will last through my freshman year of high school. I fall asleep on the bus almost daily and my mom always has to pick me up from the bus garage.

In 1986 my youngest sister, Megan, is born. We move to Fontana, CA and I start year round 1st grade. For Christmas my biological dad gives me a boy Cabbage Patch doll because I told him I wanted a brother.

In 1987 my sisters and I would live with my grandma and my two young aunts for a couple of months while my mom and stepdad look for work and a home in Seattle, WA. At 7 years old, I watch and fall in love with Dirty Dancing. Though I wasn't old enough to watch it on the big screen then, 20 years later I would be. We move to Seattle, my teacher eats cow tongue and it takes 45 minutes to get to school by bus. My mom has left my step-dad, I finish 2nd grade in G*view, WA. My new crush is Matt Sorensen. This crush will last until I meet my husband. I get chicken pox and have to miss my Valentine's Party.

In 1988, I get a Nintendo for my birthday. My sister is bit by a dog. And I start third grade at the same school I attended for second grade! It's the first time I have a best friend. Her name is Rachel Clark.

In 1989 we move to Selah. In 4th grade I have to do a report on Hamsters and present it to the class. My first time public speaking made me sick. It wouldn't be the last time I get sick before public speaking. This is the year my dad starts sending me flowers for Valentine's Day. And also the year he will join in the force that cleaned up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. And for my 9th birthday he sends me Moose Slippers.

While shopping with my mother in Shop-Ko, we separate so I can buy her a gift. I have to go potty and can't find a restroom. I wet my pants. Since it's winter of 1990, my jeans steam off the car's seat when we get home. This will be laughed about til 2009. For a few months of fifth grade we move back to G*view but then return to Selah. My fifth grade teacher is my first male teacher. In a drawing at the end of the school year I win the prize of taking home the class gerbils. This thrills my mother to no end...

I stay in Selah until a month into my 7th grade year when, in 1992, I make the decision to move back to G*view and live with my grandma for a couple of months. I end up finishing out 7th grade in Selah, I win a prize for the best colored picture. I win a Pepsi and a Snickers bar. Still one of the best contests I've ever won.

From 92-94 we move four times. We move out of our apt. into and then out of the fifth wheel, into the Icky House and then back to G*view for my high school career. It's 1994 and it's the year that will change my life.

Summer of 1994 we start going to church, I give my heart to Jesus on a school bus. I have a crush on a boy named PeeWee. And I make friends with three girls who will be my best friends even 15 years later.

In 1995 my best friend, Lindsey and I attend a soccer game. Before the game starts a boy named Trevor asks me out. I have my first real boyfriend. I join Cross Country. Our church gets a new Youth Pastor. Trevor and I break up. I start dating a boy named Eric who is well over 6' tall and I decide then that the man I marry must be tall. But it won't be Eric. We break up.

One Sunday night in October of 1996 while attending evening service at our church I meet the cutest boy I've ever seen in my life. He's wearing a Cross Country shirt that's tucked into his Lee jeans, running shoes and he's sporting a flat top. I don't know his name but I tell Lindsey, "he looks like a Josh and I'm going to marry him." I'm 16 years old. We're introduced in November and start dating shortly after our introduction. I fall head over heels. He's 5'8" and doesn't really like me. We date though for a few months then he breaks up with me. I'm completely devastated and have decided life is not worth living.

Josh comes around to my way of thinking in May and we get back together. Half way through my Senior year of High School, we're engaged in December of 1997.

One month after my 18th birthday we get married. Josh buys me my first car, an '82 Honda Civic hatchback and a grey cat we name Roger. To thank him, I'm the worst wife ever. I don't cook or clean. I don't do laundry and we spend a lot of time and money eating out and going to the movies. I beg him for a baby, he says no but I gain 30 lbs anyway. 1998 was a tough year.

To celebrate our first anniversary we head to DisneyLand and Sea World and while we're there my mom calls with the news my dad has drown. We fly back immediately. 1999 is even tougher. We buy a house, I'm 19 and Josh is 21. For Valentine's Day Josh buys me a Beagle. And I'm sure it's to pacify my desire for a baby.

Over the course of the next several years, I'm still overweight, a bad wife and bad keeper of my home. We start a lawn mowing business and I decide to lose weight using the Weigh Down Diet. This is successful and I lose 35 lbs.

In June of 2003 Josh quits his job and starts driving a Peterbilt around the Northwest. He's gone 5 days a week. I get my first real job as a barista in an espresso stand in town and make friends with a girl named Keri. She's single with no kids and I think her life is perfect. I've lost all focus on Jesus and my marriage. My life is falling apart around me.

In 2004 I apply at Pier 1 imports even though they "aren't hiring" and am given a job within the week based on my nice handwriting. I fall in love with sales and am actually good at this. I'm promoted to Assistant Manager within a few months. I can now support myself. My husband and I separate and file for divorce. I live on my own for the first time in my life and I've never been more miserable. Josh and I still talk on the phone occasionally. One night we make the decision to make our marriage work. I move in with Lindsey and her husband for a few weeks. Then in with my mother for a couple of weeks. And then back home. I recommit my life to Jesus and my heart to my husband. I quit working at Pier 1.

In 2005 Josh quits driving truck. I learn what it means to be a keeper of the home. My house is clean most days. I cook more than we eat out and the highlight of my life is the day I give birth to the most amazing little girl. We start attending a new church.

Life is going great. My marriage and my little girl are wonderful. I start blogging. I don't have many friends who live near me. That changes in October of 2006 when I get a MySpace account and reconnect with my friend Amber from high school. We become inseparable.

Last day of February 2007, Josh and I go out to dinner. We come home and I have the worst stomach pain I've ever had. At 1 in the morning we decide to go to the ER. It's confirmed I have appendicitis. I have an appendectomy and go home the next day. A week later I go in for a follow up and am told that when my appendix was removed so was a malignant tumor. 4 days later I have another surgery removing half my colon and 41 lymphnodes and leaving me with a 6" scar down my belly. The rest of 2007 is great. Amber and I fulfill our lifelong dream of seeing Dirty Dancing on the big screen. We drive 400 miles round trip to watch Johnny get Baby out of the corner. Josh and I hem and haw and decide in July we'll try for another baby. I get pregnant in August.

In April of 2008 our Beagle dies. Our "first born" and we realize how much we loved her in spite of her driving us insane. Exactly one month later in May of 2008 I give birth to another baby girl. And she cries for the next 17 months (and counting) of her life. We'll never hem and haw about having another baby. November of 2008 Amber and I fulfill another dream and see New Kids on the Block in concert 3 hours away from home (and my baby), I use a breast pump that is hooked to jumper cables outside of my van. It's quite memorable and totally worth the embarrassment and any picture she may have taken...

In April of 2009 my husband quits his very steady 7-5 Mon-Fri job and we load up as a family and drive around in a Peterbilt 5 days a week. People think we're nuts but support us anyway. I find creative uses for plastic bags, blog about it and still have friends.

It's fall of 2009, a new year right around the corner. And the beginning of a new chapter.

Birthday Giveaway Winner Is.....

The winner of a one year subscription to Martha Stewart magazine is.... wait for it....

wait.for.it.....

......

Amy!!! I think this is the first time Amy has ever left a comment, and this weekend was the first time I've visited her blog. She's a newlywed and I'm totally loving the photos they've posted of their honeymoon. Very cool!

Congratulations, Amy! Email me by tomorrow (Tuesday) night at truckfamily@gmail.com with your address and I'll get this (possibly already read) magazine in the mail to you. Plus the little postcard says to allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your first issue...AND it says you'll get a free tote bag. How fun is that?

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Birthday Giveaway Number 4...It's a Good Thing

It's that time of the month again! Well, not that time of the month. But the time of the month where I announce the Bloggy Birthday Giveaway!

A little background for anyone new: I love birthdays. Well not birthdays in general. I love my birthday. A whole lot. And the next one I'm having is HUGE! It's my 30th and I'm pretty stoked for it. I decided to start celebrating a wee bit early (my birthday's in June) and I've been giving away gifts for the last three months.

I announce what the giveaway is at the end of each month, you leave a comment that enters you to win, and then on the 3rd of the next month (which is just a few days later) I announce the winner.

Fun, huh?!

I KNOW!!!

I've been thinking for the last few weeks about what I'd like to win, should I actually win something. Thinking about something I'd like to have but wouldn't usually buy for myself. A lot of times that's how we women-folk roll. We like stuff but to buy anything for ourselves seems too indulgent. Or, we'd like to have something but it's not really a priority because coffee is the priority and you can't afford anything because you buy coffee at 5 bucks a pop!

Not that I'd know anything about that last scenario I just offered up.

Un uh.

I realized that I love to get mail. Magazines especially. Magazines are very fun mail.

Sooooo....

<center><a href="http://joshua24-15.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/memoriesbydesign/Lil-House-Birthday-Giveaway.jpg"/></a></center></td>

Is......

A one year subscription to Martha Stewart Living! Plus the current magazine that was on the shelf today. Which I may or may not look through before I send it to you. Not that I'd do anything like that.

Un uh.

Alright, so here's all the fine print that isn't actually fine print: If you leave a comment, you are entering yourself into the giveaway. Should you be the winner you'll need to email me with your name and address so I can get your goods in the mail to you.

To have your name entered TWICE, copy the code up above and post it on your blog with a link on over here. Make sure you come back and leave a second comment letting me know you did it.

Since the 3rd falls on a Saturday this month, I'll post the winner on Monday the 5th. You have until Sunday night to enter!

Happy Commenting and Good Luck!!!

I met Doogie Houser Today

I had my annual female appointment today. I got up. Showered, shaved...and had a date with the doctor.

Sigh...

The nurse comes in and goes through a list of questions. Then before she leaves the room says, "Oh, and Doctor has an intern helping him today."

"A boy or girl intern?" I ask her. Already knew what her answer would be...

"A boy." She tells me.

"So, he'll stand up by my head, right?" I break out in a sweat. As if one boy down by my girly parts wasn't enough?!

"No, honey. He watches what the doctor does. Are you okay with that or would you rather he didn't come in?"

I bust out laughing. I kid you not. I wanted to cry and the next best thing was laughter. I was able to control it for a minute to answer her.

"He's gotta learn somehow, huh?" Lovely that he gets to learn with my parts. Ugh.

"Thanks for being such a good sport about it, Sarah. Here's your paper to wrap around you" And out she goes. Leaving me with a napkin to cover my girl parts.

Yes, I was a good sport. And of course Sugar is asking questions about why I'm taking my clothes off at the doctor. Am I going to go potty on the table, is that why I took off my pants?

My doctor walks in.

With a 12 year old boy. No, seriously. He looked TWELVE! My very own Doogie Houser. Lucky me.

I know it sounds crazy but the worst part of an annual exam to me is the breast exam. I'll give a little TMI (as if this whole post hasn't been) and let you know that for the past 20 years that I've had these here things called breasts (a word I hate, btw) they've been nothing but trouble for me. I hate mine. Hate.mine.

And so, I'd rather have the Pap part done over the breast exam. But of course, the breast exam is routine and is done first. Doogie's in the corner. And my doctor starts the exam. He asks if I do them myself and I answer honestly. No.

He tells me I'm of the age I need to start being concerned with it. He had two 26 year old patients with breast cancer and neither of them are alive today.

Lovely.

While I was sad for those two girls, it didn't make having my exam done any easier.

Then the other fun part. With Doogie standing by his side my doctor finishes out the rest of the exam.

It's never as bad as I imagine it's going to be. And having Sugar in the room to talk and ask questions took my mind off of it. While I hate going in, I know it's something that must be done.

Just hoping Doogie isn't there next time.

Dear God, Can you Please turn me into a Boy. These Hormones are Killing Me.

Do you ever just wish you were a boy?

Normally I don't.

Hormonally I do.

These last few weeks, like 6 of them...I've been a hormonal wreck. Anything and I mean anything is making me cry. Or mad. Or depressed.

I'm a big fat mess.

Do you get like this? Are you like this? It's not pretty.

Tonight I asked my husband if he wished he'd married a boy. He looked at me like I was from outer space.

"Why would I wish that?" He asks me.

"So that way you wouldn't have to deal with hormones."

"Oooh, good point."

Do you see? My husband is even considering marrying a boy just so he doesn't have to deal with my hormones!

That's when you know it's bad.

Friday Facts of my Life

I'm going to be posting my birthday giveaway on Monday. It's early. But it's my blog and I'll change things up if I want to. I think it's something almost all of you would enjoy, it's a good thing.

I signed up for Netflix again. We do this almost every fall because there's nothing else to do in the evenings. We've enjoyed the "Watch it Now" feature.

In the last year I've gained about 5 lbs. For me, five lbs is the difference of buttoning my pants all the way up or having to use a rubberband for the last button. Josh says I should go buy another pair of jeans. I refuse. I like the two pair I own, thankyouverymuch. So what if they don't button all the way. That's so overrated.

Christmas is exactly three months away. I only have one Christmas gift so far. I'm behind schedule. But at least my gift is for the hardest person I have to shop for (hi, Chad!)

We're going to add to our family. Yes. We finally made up our minds. And it's official. We're going to get a cat. We've had several cats since we've lived here. Several. And all of them have met the demise of either our road, rat poisoning, or lead poisoning. Only two of the many cats we've had did not urinate in our house. And I think those who did are the cause of why those after them continued the trend. We've had the carpets cleaned, painted the walls and cleaned cleaned cleaned. I'm hoping this will have done the trick to have gotten the smell out. We can't smell it but animals seem to. Now, we start the process of what kind of cat? Indoor? Outdoor? Both? Male? Female? Kitten or Cat?

My last load of clothes is drying. It's so nice to have all the laundry done.

I mowed the lawn yesterday. My husband was happy to have one of the chores he usually does, done. Is there a chore you could for your husband to lighten his load?

Because of Josh's raise, I was able to put an extra $60 on the Visa card. $116.76 left! I may just end up paying it off next week, I'm so excited.

I went to Starbucks today. My coffee increased in price. Dramatically. From $4.44 to $4.82. Absurd. ABSURD!

One of my FB/Bloggy friends called me "babe" this week, I thought I was going to die. She's hilarious.

I'm having a Scrapbook party next Saturday. I'm pretty excited for it. Food and friends, doesn't get much better than that.

Clogged the drain in my shower this morning. Thinking I'll start shaving my legs more than once a month to avoid doing that again.

The Purpose

First off, an apology for anyone who saw some junk in my right sidebar under "Road Noise." That's my Twitter account and apparently it was hacked. My last five tweets are supposed to appear there and earlier today it was a bunch of junk. Junk I didn't post. Sorry if there was anything offensive. Eek.

Why am I posting again today when I said earlier I wouldn't be online? Because the girls are down for naps and because I can.

This morning by having everything besides our house phone unplugged, I was able to devote myself entirely to my children. I know most women already do this. But it's something I struggle with.

A morning routine for some may look like this:
Get out of bed. Make bed. Pee. Brush teeth. Shower. Dress. Feed family.

Mine sorta looks like this*:
Think about getting out of bed. Finally get out of bed. Consider turning on the computer. Decide to potty first. Turn on the computer. Think about making breakfast. Check email instead. Make breakfast. And while girls are eating check FB.

*a slight exaggeration

I was talking to Emily on the phone a couple of days ago and she said a phrase that has really stuck with me. "You want to be a purposeful parent." And she's right, I do. But I find so often that I'm a get the day over with so I can breathe easy kinda parent.

I go about my household chores and as I lay in bed at night, realize I never once had the girls help me with anything. They are both old enough-even at 4 and 1- to help me. It's my responsibility to teach them to be wives and mothers. Even if they aren't ever wives or mothers, they need to learn to be keepers of their homes. They need to learn that beds don't make themselves, floors don't get vacuumed mysteriously in the night and clothes, sadly, don't FAPA themselves.

Cooking and cleaning is so much easier and goes much faster when I do it myself. But what am I teaching them? Nothing. So today, with the computer off my mind was focused on them. Sugar wanted all 537 of her Hot Wheels cars to play with but her room was messy. Most times I will clean it to get it done and that's that. Today, I informed her that if she wanted the cars, she'd have to clean her room first. I didn't leave the room and come back and expect it to be done right. I stayed in the room with her and saw her through her task, helping her along the way. Then it was time to make her bed. It drove me crazy because there were wrinkles but she smoothed out what she could and I had to remind myself she's 4.

Once the room was clean her cars came out. The girls played together quietly while I folded laundry and Sugar helped put clothes away. Spice had helped put toys away and then moved on to destroy the bookcase. Grrr.

At breakfast time I actually sat with them. Usually I clean or email while they eat. Today I sat with my coffee and read Proverbs 22 (today is the 22nd) to them. It was so enjoyable and so peaceful. And of course I want to kick myself for not having it this way every morning. I am Queen Beatmyselfup. It's easy for me to sit and dwell on every way I have failed my husband and my girls. I'm learning that when I do that Satan wins. He loves to see me beat myself up. He loves to remind me of my failures. He loves to stick them to me.

Today, I'm not going to beat myself up. Today I'm going to recognize areas I need to change and not just recognize them but actually change them. I've known all along the areas that need fixing. I've just chosen to let them go un-fixed. I'm also choosing to recognize I can't do it all in my own strength but need the Lord's help. Oohh, how I need the Lord's help.

Cooking and cleaning and everything about my day may take longer but I'm going to have my girls accompany me in as many tasks as possible. And soon enough they'll be able to handle the tasks without me by their side. It may take longer now but it'll be worth it in the long run.

I'm not going to concern myself with getting breakfast dishes done while the girls are eating. I'm going to sit with them and talk with them about our upcoming day. Read more from Proverbs. And then they can help me do the dishes. Spice is plenty capable-even at 1-to put silverware in the dishwasher. She's also amazing at closing the thing.

Where's there purpose in rushing my day? There isn't.

It's taking the time for my girls. To love them. To train them. To show them Jesus.

The Day my Girls are Number One

I'm writing this on Monday.

To publish on Tuesday.

Tonight I've decided that tomorrow (which is actually today) I am going to stay off the computer. Off of FB. No Twittering or reading blogs or emails. And since my phone hasn't been charged the last two days, I'm going to leave it uncharged for one more day.

I will spend time with my girls. And with the laundry basket. Maybe I'll even empty the laundry basket and put the girls in it. And by empty, I mean throw everything on the couch. Like I'd actually FAPA* the laundry!

I've been thinking about how I'm constantly trying to keep up with this place that so often my sweet children are pushed aside because I'm too busy. But I find that I'm never too busy to put down the broom to check my email, FB or twitter. Or your blog. (see, it's all your fault!)

Starting now, I'm going to put less stock in making sure I'm not falling behind on all things chore-ish and invest more that energy into a sweet four year and spunky one year old.

I'm not saying I don't think the house should be clean. A clean house is wonderful. But it's not the most important thing.

So, my friends. I will miss you this day. But my girls are stinkin' cute and I want to spend this day with them.

*Fold and Put Away.

The Monday Randomness

My girls are sick. And even though I've washed my hands no less than 1,317 times, I've caught their cold.

Jerks.

So, my throat hurts and is itchy. I keep sneezing and my eyes weigh about 235 lbs apiece. What's up with that?

Harvest was supposed to start today. But it didn't. So my husband is on a day run with Sugar. She wanted to go today because he's driving a different Peterbilt. It's lighter than the one he normally drives. And when it comes to apples, every pound counts. The more weight he can haul, the more money he makes. So, even though he's not hauling apples today, he's already traded trucks and Sugar thinks it's pretty cool.

So, off they went to load hay and head to Sumas. Which is about 4 minutes from Canada. And about 6 hours from our house.

I'm left with a crabby Spice baby. She and I don't like being sick. And we're sick together. Quite the pair we're making today. She has snot dried to her face with her bangs sticking in it. At least I don't have that problem.

Two of the six neighbor kids were over yesterday. I've really had to pray about my attitude and heart toward them. And I believe the Lord is working on me. Usually I roll my eyes and let out a heavy sigh when I see them on their way across the driveway heading to our house. But yesterday I didn't mind, even though they were here for close to five hours. They went home for dinner and were back within half an hour. Josh has all the patience in the world for them and even enjoys them. At about 7 last night he got the brilliant idea to put the popcorn popper in the middle of the living room floor and popped popcorn without the lid on it. We had popcorn everywhere. While they were doing that I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and let *L* have the paddle covered in dough. I let her have the paddle, so I could have bowl. ;)

At ten til 8 they headed out the door with cookies and smiles. And I was actually sad to see them go.

Josh has been making me coffee the last two days. It's not Starbucks but it's sooo much cheaper and I really need to put on my big girl panties and just stop.buying.coffee!!!

Josh was given a raise a couple of weeks ago. He gets paid per mile and they upped the amount. For those last three checks we've been taking that extra money and applying it toward our Visa card on top of the payment we already make to it. I checked the balance today and it's only at $176! It will be paid off within the next two or three weeks. Woo hoo! Next, we'll hit the payment for the bill from this day. CT scans aren't cheap.

When Josh called me a few weeks ago to tell me he got a raise, I was so proud of him. He's been working for Nancy for five months and they've been so good to us. My husband has never asked for a raise, ever, from any job he's had. He's always told me, "I'll be paid whatever I'm worth to them." And he's fine with that. Even when I think he deserves more because he's so incredible, he's totally fine with whatever he's given because he knows we'll be taken care of. It was nice to see that they're thankful for him.

I'm currently writing a really long blog post (no, not this one, even though it is getting awfully long) about my life from day one. It's interesting. And probably so boring. But I'm sure I'll publish on it one of these days soon. So, the night you have insomnia-come and read it. =)

Random post over. You can carry on with your day now.

The Winners of all things Truck Stop Worthy

It's been driving you crazy, hasn't it? Wondering all week long if you're the winner of the amazing truck stop prize.

The wait is over my friends.

After consulting random.org, the winners are as follows:

Jeana:


That would be a fish magnet. Like a chick magnet but um, not. Sugar picked this one out. :)

Breanna: Oh, you're going to love me. ;)


An eagle keychain. Kinda looks like it was supposed to be branded with the Harley Davidson logo but just didn't meet their standards. I have no idea why not...

Giordi, Giordi, Giordi....my dear friend of my youth group days. The last prize is so you. ;)

That's right, a transparent sticker for your car or kitchen window, maybe even for your classroom! Hiway Honey, my new nickname for you.

Thank you to everyone who left sweet comments on my anniversary post. You all rock. And I wish I had a truck stop prize for everyone. Not sure you wish that though. :)

So, girlies, email me or FB me with your addresses and I'll priority mail these bad boys to ya.

Jeana, if your address hasn't changed since the fruit fly epidemic we had here last year, then I gotcha covered.

And in other non truck stop prize winning glory! Emily! You've won a trip to see us! ;)

Effort on my Part, Input on Yours

I'll have you know that I started a TMI post but reconsidered. Sometimes too much is, well, too much.

No need to thank me.

Moving on...

Yesterday afternoon I spent some time replying to the comments from my anniversary post. If you've supplied your email to blogger, it shows up in my email with your comment.

I love that feature but don't always utilize it.

So often I read the comments you leave and while I'm so thankful to those of you who DO comment, I don't let you know that.

That's going to change.

And not just with blog comments but my personal email life as well. I emailed a friend back last night after receiving her email two WEEKS ago (apology accepted, Linda?) And I have another friend (hi, Natalie!) that I haven't replied to yet either. I'm so lame.

Kinda makes me sick of myself. It's total laziness on my part. I'll read the email-usually from my phone-and then just put off replying. And then I get to the point that it's been so long since I've replied that I'm embarrassed to!

Anyone else hearin' me?

Or am I alone in this?

My friends, whether in real life or those through my blog, who I consider friends just as much-mean the world to me. And I've failed at communicating that.

I'm really sorry.

Here's where I'd like your input.

Would you like me to always reply to the comments you've left on my blog?

Do you leave a comment and then come back later to see the comment thread or to see if I've replied?

Did you know you can have follow-up comments emailed to you from blogger?

I'm thinking if I don't have an email address for you and you've left a comment, I'll just reply in the comments section. Otherwise, you'll receive an email from me. And I'll try reeaally hard to stay on top of it!

And if you'd like, you can always email me with your! email address!

Tomorrow I post the three winners of the three uh-mazing truck stop prizes!


-- Post From My iPhone

The Truck

Sammy asked for pictures. I'm delivering.




This is my view of the girls from my seat. Spice (on the left) is showing her typical protest. Sugar is sucking her thumb and watching a movie. Josh had to fix the dvd player (he didn't fix anything tho, I just hadn't plugged the lighter dealie-o in all the way) (so no worries , Em, your dvd player is great!)



That's Josh's control center. I couldn't even tell you what half the knobs, buttons or switches do. I'm sure Sugar could.

The steering wheel was one he purchased about 6 years ago when he drove truck before. It was a spendy steering wheel and his boss paid him back for it as a nice bonus. I was so happy he got to put it in this truck. And so was he.



This is our tiny dorm-size fridge. Right now I have some chicken, some homemade jam, breakfast bagels and burritos. And some milk. I've yet to figure out how to fully stock the fridge so that we aren't eating out all the time. Any tips from anyone are welcome. Begged for.



This is the glove box that sits directly in front of me. It has our deodorant, toothbrushes/paste, crayons, bills of lading, notepads, short straws (in case Starbucks gives me a long one-cause I don't like the long ones,) earbuds for my iPod/Phone, a screwdriver and a Pampered Chef forged cutlery knife-a must have for every glove box. Basically it's a junk-drawer and I'll be honest I cleaned it out before I took a picture of it.

I'll take more later but wanted to at least share a few. I'll post pics of what our sleeping arrangements look like and our limited storage area.

We have a curtain between the sleeper and the cab and the girls have learned they like it closed so they can crawl under it. Oh the things that entertain them.

I know you have questions waiting to be answered by my husband and he wiiiill answer them-some year.

But if you have any I can answer about the truck or our weeks on the road, go for it.

Thank you for all your sweet comments yesterday, you still have time to enter to win a truckstop prize. I now have them all!! :) I kinda don't want to post pictures til I announce who's won, it's almost embarrassing the items one can find.

.-- Post From My iPhone

Three Year Blogiversary

I'm the type of girl who is really good at starting a project.

I'm also the type of girl who is really good at never finishing said project.

So, for me to have started blogging three years ago and to still be doing it is pretty amazing to me. I'm kinda proud of myself right now and if you could see me, you'd see I'm typing with one hand while patting myself on the back with the other.

Because I can multi-task.

I started blogging because I love to journal...but my thoughts come quickly and I get annoyed that a pen can't keep up; typing my thoughts is much faster than writing them.

Sugar was just over a year when I started doing this. She was barely walking but talking up a storm. Now, she has a sister who is just over a year who barely talks but runs circles around me.

I thought I was tired three years ago with one child. I laugh now at my foolishness.

Three years ago I blogged about being a poor housekeeper, lazy wife and slacking mother.

Wow, what three years doesn't change...

If I weren't blogging from my phone, I'd link you to my first post. It wasn't anything exciting. You know-the way my posts are NOW.

Three years ago my husband had a job he enjoyed but didn't love. We'd daydream of our retirement years when he could drive a semi again and we could travel. We never thought our dreams of going over the road would come about 35 years earlier than planned. We never dreamed it'd be possible to load up two small children into a Peterbilt and drive aroud the Pacific Northwest.

But we're doing it. And so far I'm living to blog about it.

In the three years I've been journaling our lives and reading the lives of others, I've been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible.

I started blogging as a bit of an outlet. Never realizing I'd make friends and build lasting relationships. I never thought I'd be so emotionally attached to the lives of other women I'd never met. Never thought I'd share joys and sorrows with women across the US or a state or two away. I didn't know that girls who've never met me would send me emails of love and encouragement.

You guys are family to me.

Honestly and truly.

Thank you for being here through my rough patches. Thank you for encouraging me in all areas of my life.

Kristie and Treena, you two were the first and only commenters for awhile. Thanks for sticking around. :)

To celebrate year Three, I'm giving away three prizes. One prize for three readers.

And since our famiy is OTR this week, your prizes will be some sort of truck stop paraphernalia.

I can sense your excitement even out here in Whoknowswhere, MT.

This morning I was looking thru one of the truck stops for gifts for you. Had my hands not been full of hot coffees and a half gallon of milk, one of the prizes was going to be a can of Nalley's chili. What made that can of chili so special you ask....

It was $3.29!

Insanity.

Rather than take out a second mortgage for that chili, I left with my coffee and milk.

So here's the deal. You're entering today for a completely random, who-knows-what-the-prizes-will-be.

Leave a comment to enter. And tell me what you'd like to see more or less of on this here blog of mine.

I'll get some truck stop prizes together this week and announce the winners (and prizes!) on Friday.

You have til Friday before I post winners to enter. Look how nice I am leaving you all that time. No wonder you all keep coming back. ;)

And if you read and never comment, as a prize for me, since it's my anniversary and all....could you pretty please with sugar and pink sprinkles on top, say howdy? Thanks!

Happy Commenting and thank you for THREE awesome years!

Oooh! If you post anonymously, could you leave your email address with your comment that'd be great-so I can letcha know you won.

Thanks!
-- Post From My iPhone

Sometimes being a girl isn't all it's cramped up to be.

I'm a hormonal wreck people! Oh my word.

One FB status made me tear up, just knowing she's headed to Illinois instead of being 4 hrs from me makes me sad. Another girl's blog about her son raising all the money for their dog made me tear up.

And learning that my sister is moving back to Montana is making me want to bawl.

Today my girls and I will meet Erica, Derek, their kiddos, my mom and aunt at Denny's. We'll sit and have lunch and then they'll be on their way back to Montana. I'm so very thankful that Derek is in remission and well enough to leave Seattle. But I'm sad they're leaving. Boo.

My husband has been gone since Tuesday and in that amount of time I've done almost zero housework. I've just been letting it sit til the last minute. He should be here around 6:30 and I'm pretty sure I'll start cleaning around 6:00. It's just how I roll.

Thank you for leaving me comments about where you'd live if you could. I even Googled Whitefish, MT Keely. =) And I think we could totally live there. One of the perks of Josh's job is that we can basically live anywhere in WA, OR, ID and quite possibly MT. Family is definitely a draw for us, and partly what keeps us where we are, but I wouldn't mind being away. Even for just a season.

When I'm frustrated and discouraged I remind myself, this is just a season. Whether it's dealing with my girls, this crummy town, relationships with my family and sometimes even my marriage.

Seasons.

So, before I start crying or getting all sappy about how much I'm going to miss my friend while she's in Illinois (as if she lives next door or something) or about a teenager earning and saving hard earned money for a dog or about my sister moving 10 hours away, or whatever else...I'm going to go now.

Trying not to be a lazy blogger means you get a bunch of weird stuff coming from me. Now I bet you're hoping I would have bloggy-breaked until Christmas, huh?

Random Junk

I yell at my kids.

I don't read my bible.

I've started a workout video that I have a love/hate relationship with. Mostly love, though.

I'm ready to move out of this town.

I don't know where we'd go but I know I'm ready.

I haven't been online nearly as much as I used to be.

Mainly because I've been holed up in my basement cleaning, organizing, sorting and chucking. Man, it feels good.

I had a yard sale last Friday. One lady gave me money that she dug out of her bra. Trying to keep a straight face with my mom and sister there was almost impossible.

A man came to the yard sale and came up to us and said, "Beach Bunnies?" I knew that wasn't what he said but it reallllly sounded like it. After processing it for a sec I realized he said, "speak Spanish?"

I don't so he left. But man we got a laugh out of how retarded I was.

I just made instant mashed potatoes for the first time in 11 years. They are nasty. And now I know why it's been 11 years since I've made them.

I am two payments away from not having a Visa card balance anymore. I'm freaking out excited. (Denise, Kristie...aren't you proud?! )

In 20 days I have my wonderful yearly exam. I'd rather eat my own arm.

It's going to cost me about $250 to have that wonderful exam but ya know what, it's worth it. If it's been awhile for you...please, make an appointment.

My girls are taking naps at the moment and I'm getting a small glimpse as to what Heaven is going to be like.

I slept with 6 loads of clean laundry last night. I dreamt about dryer sheets.

I got a new bible from Amazon yesterday. It's black and red and I love her. Guess now I should open it up and read it, huh?

My girls will be home-schooled and it kinda freaks me out that I'm the one who's going to be teaching them. Helloooo 2.7 GPA student right here. They'll be smarter than me by 2nd grade.

Next week will be three years that I've been blogging. I plan to give something away to three of my blog readers. Because I'm cool like that. If you give them free stuff, they will come.

My sister and BIL are leaving Seattle tomorrow. His treatment is done and he's well enough to leave. Isn't that so awesome?

My husband has a BFF. It's this girl's husband.

My house is not self-cleaning. When I find a house that is...I'm willing to pay millions.

I've considered deleting my blog because I've been a lazy blogger lately. I know I don't like lazy bloggers, I don't want to be one of those.

Okay. Done with random junk.

Now I have a question for you. If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would you live? Why?

Hello, Plano

Just a little shout out to Plano, TX!

(and those who lurk from there!)

Bloggy Blech

I've been world's worst blogger lately.

I'm totally aware.

But there's not much I can do about it. I just have nothing.

I got nothin'.

And I'm also aware that my husband has yet to answer your questions. I gave him the list and he's been in a very long process of writing out his own post to you to answer all the questions.

I'd say it should be ready for you by Christmas.

As for when I blog again...I don't know if it will be that soon.

Winner Is....

Brittany!!!

Email me your address girlie and I'll get this in the mail to you!

Thanks to everyone who signed up.

I'm officially NINE months from 30!!!

and we are 28 days til the next Birthday Giveaway announcement!

Birthday Giveaway!

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Can you believe it?! An entire month has already flown by!

The giveaway this month is really hard for me to um, give away. I love it. A lot. But I must love all of you waaay more!


Two fun items! A 'Memories-Made-Easy-Journal' and a grocery shopping planner!


The tabs are: Meal Planning, Shopping Lists, TakeOut Menus, Recipes and Leftovers


Recipes are included!


And the 'leftovers' tab contains some fun stickers where you can fill in what day it was opened, what day it needs to be discarded and who the food belongs to. So fun!

The journal comes with a coupon to send in for a FREE subscription to Parents magazine. So, whether you're having a baby or know someone who is-I thought this was a total bonus!

The journal has cool little entries that are started for you. Here's just a couple: 'you make me smile when you...' 'i love you more each day because...' 'i'll never forget when you..' and so on.

There ya have it!

Birthday Giveaway Number 3!

To enter, just leave a comment and be prepared to email me your address if you're chosen.

If you'd like to increase your chance of winning, add my button to your blog and/or post on your own blog between now and tomorrow night about the giveaway. Make sure you let me know you've done it.

And for anyone who has NEVER commented before you'll be entered twice automatically (you know, IF you leave a comment this time) and you'll be entered a third time should you post to your blog about the Birthday giveaway!

Winner will be randomly selected through random.org on Thursday, September 3rd (Nine months before my 30th!!!! Birthday!)

Good luck!!!

If you're wondering what the hay this Birthday Giveaway is about...go here.

*sorry the photos are kinda lame, took them with my phone.